“Why didn’t you go to the police then?” Deveau persisted.
“He had a lot of cop friends. I didn’t know who to trust. I saw the bikes and someone outside wearing the Torpedo Ink colors like Lana had shown me and I went inside. I was too distraught to think it was a dumb idea to go into a biker bar. Fortunately, I met Ice right away, and he took care of me.”
“Did he know you were an heiress?” Deveau asked.
“Not then. Probably later, when we talked marriage and I said he had to sign the prenup Kevin had drawn up. He signed it without hesitation.”
“Ice signed a prenup drawn up by your previous lawyer,” Harrington echoed, exchanging a long look with Deveau.
“Yes,” she reiterated. “Without hesitation. If you’re thinking he coerced me into this marriage in any way, he didn’t. I wanted him almost from the first moment I set eyes on him. He was so sweet to me. He hated that Winston had put bruises on me. I tried to get him drunk and I deliberately tried to seduce him.”
Both men exchanged grins. She ignored them. No one ever seemed to believe the truth, that she was the one at fault, not Ice. He always had to take the blame in everyone’s eyes. It hadn’t been that way, but everyone seemed determined to make him take the blame.
“I will admit I’d been drinking and so had he. When we woke up, the first thought was to dissolve the marriage, although I didn’t want to. I liked him. I liked everything about him. I knew it was wrong to trap him into marriage and eventually I thought he’d be really upset about it. Then I saw Winston in the parking lot with a bunch of cops and I panicked. I got on Ice’s bike and came here to Caspar. To this house.”
Soleil looked around her. “It’s so beautiful. He was offering me so much. A home. A family. And him. He’s amazing. Caring. Very loving all the time. We don’t have fights. We don’t even argue. When I’m in the kitchen experimenting, he’s right there with me.”
“I’m sure you’ve been kept apprised of the investigation into Winston’s death,” Harrington said, abruptly switching subjects.
She smiled at him and sat back in the chair. “I think I’d like my lawyer with me now. I’d feel a lot more comfortable.”
Before either of them could object, she waved at Absinthe, who was watching carefully. Ice had told her that he was able to lip-read and they’d determined ahead of time which chair for her to sit in so it would force the two law enforcement officers to sit in the ones that would give Absinthe the advantage of reading their lips. He came in immediately and took the chair beside hers.
“Gentlemen,” he greeted.
Soleil was a little shocked at how different Absinthe looked when he dressed in a suit. Like the others, he was tatted and had defined muscles. He was blond with strange, crystallized eyes. They were so light blue they looked almost cloudy at times. He had one scar that curved along the left side of his jaw. Incredibly handsome, whether he was in blue jeans or a suit, he was intimidating. He was quiet, and spoke softly, but when he did speak, his voice was so compelling, she noticed the room would go silent.
“Are you all right, Soleil?” he asked, his voice incredibly gentle.
She could tell he was genuinely concerned for her, and that warmed her. She did have a family. She’d been accepted into Torpedo Ink’s circle and they were there, making certain she wasn’t alone. Ice had given her that. Her Ice.
“Yes. We’re just getting into the investigation into Winston and those horrible people. If I’d stayed with him, he would have murdered me.” She rubbed her arms with her hands. The chills were real. She’d had no idea that there were so many people involved.
“As you know, Winston was involved in a con artist ring targeting wealthy women. These men would meet women at fund-raising events and then insert themselves into their lives.” Jonas Harrington leaned forward. “How much did you know about it?”
“Nothing at all.” She could answer that honestly. “Winston would give me a list of names, both men and women, he wanted me to befriend. He claimed he was going into politics and it was important to know the right people. He would need money and donations and wanted me friends with very wealthy men and women. He also introduced me to several of the men that were involved with him in this horrible business.” She gave a delicate little shudder.
Ice came in with a tray, putting it down on the coffee table and handing mugs to both Jonas and Jackson.
“Look at you, all domestic,” Jonas teased.